Ribbon dispenser



June 27, 1%? c. v. QFFRAY, JR

RIBBON DISPENSER Filed April 4, 1966 INVENTOR.

CLAUDE V. OFFRAY J r.

ATTORNEY United States Patent York Filed Apr. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 539,8622 Claims. (Cl. 206-80) This invention relates to an improved dispensingpackage, and more particularly to an improved dispenser package forribbon or like web material which is convoluted about a roll or core.

The invention relates further to a highly decorative ribbon package orthe like which maintains the material in clear view for vending, thepackage additionally providing for convenient pay out of the ribbonafter the article has been purchased.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved ribbon package or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ribbon package of thetype described and including a rigid backing member and a plastic ribbonspool support member.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a package forribbon or the like which is conveniently mountable on display shelvingor like display apparatus, wherein the package, after purchase,functions to maintain the ribbon in orderly fashion and to prevent theinadvertent withdrawal of an excess amount of ribbon.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a ribbon packageof the type described from which the ribbon may be withdrawn withoutdanger of kinking, distorting or otherwise marring the ribbon.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon dispenser in accordance withthe invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG- URE 2 of an embodimentof the invention.

In accordance with the invention, a display card is provided with acoating 11 of polyvinyl acetate or cellulose acetate butyrate or thelike in accordance with known practice, said coating permitting a heatsealing connection thereto of a heat scalable, vacuum formed,transparent retainer member 12, which may be made of cellulose acetate,for instance. The retainer member 12 includes a generally circular baseportion 13, a cylindrical hub 14 and a radially projecting flange 15.

A spool of ribbon, comprising a series of convolutions of ribbon woundabout core 17, is maintained in mounted position on the retainer member12 in a manner permitting free withdrawal of the ribbon without movingthe ribbon spool from the card and without the likelihood of looseribbon being spilled from the reel. This is accomplished by heatsealingly, or otherwise adhesively connecting the base 13 to the coating11 formed on the retainer -10.

It will be understood that the height of the cylindrical hub portion 14is slightly greater than the depth of the core 17 on which the ribbon isspooled, and the diameter of the hub 14 is slightly less than the innerdiameter of said core 17. It will thus be observed that the spool isfree to rotate with respect to the card, facilitating the removal ofribbon.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 3,wherein like parts have been given like reference numerals, the flangeportion 15' is molded in such manner as to form a slightly acute anglewith respect to the hub 14 of the retaining element 12, said flangebeing directed both radially outward and in the direction of said base13. Due to the resiliency of the plastic of which the element 12 isformed, when the base 13 of the unit is heat sealed to the coating 11 ofthe core 10, the flange 15' will be outwardly deflected from its normalposition, shown in dotted lines, (the angle of the dotted lineindication of the normal position being exaggerated for purposes ofclarity of illustration,) to the solid line position, by engagement withthe ribbon material.

It will be observed that by reason of the plastic memory characteristicsof the plastic material, and by reason of the fact that the flange willbe inwardly stressed against the sides of the reel, there will be aslight frictional engage ment between the flange 15' of the ribbonmaterial which is spooled on the core 17. This frictional contactprevents inadvertent, free unreeling of the ribbon from the spool.

It will be noted that the angularity of the flange 15 with respect tothe backing card will vary as increments of ribbon are withdrawn fromthe spool so that the desired frictional engagement will be presentuntil the entirety of the ribbon has been withdrawn.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the ribbon will be firmlysupported on the core, the core will be rotatably supported on the card,and that ribbon may be withdrawn therefrom by a linear pull without thenecessity for directing the ribbon through restricted apertures, aroundcorners or the like. Further, in the event that an undue amount ofribbon is withdrawn, the ribbon may be readily rewound with littleeffort and without distorting or damaging the ribbon or the ribbonsupport.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention, the ribbon reel isconstantly constrained by frictional forces which tend to preventrelative rotation of the ribbon reel with respect to the card and, thus,act as a brake to assure that ribbon will not become inadvertently paidoff the reel and that when a force is exerted to withdraw increments ofribbon, undesired quantities will not spill from the reel.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what isclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A package for ribbon or the like comprising a rigid backing member,integral resilient transparent retainer means for securing said ribbonto said backing member, said means including a cylindrical hub having acircular planar base portion at one end of said hub and an annularflange at the other end of said hub, the inner extremity of said flangeforming the outer terminal end of said hub and the outer rim of saidflange being disposed radially outwardly of said hub, adhesive meansconnecting said base portion to said backing member, a reel of ribbonhaving a central bore rotatably mounted on said hub portion to liebetween said backing member and said flange, the depth of said hubportion being such that portions of said flange frictionally engageagainst, and said flange is supported by, said reel of ribbon, wherebysaid flange prevents free rotation of said reel about said hub and saidreel reenforces and supports said flange against damage due tocompressive forces exerted against said flange in the direction of saidbacking member.

2. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein portions of said flangeradially outwardly disposed with respect to said inner extremity areinclined toward said backing member and resiliently pressed against saidreel, there- 3 by frictionally to limit free rotation of said reel aboutsaid FOREIGN PATENTS hub. 578,302 6/1959 Canada;

References Cited 396,689 7/1933 Great Bntam.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 1,997,0204/1935 Soldap 242-118.4 X LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner. 2291072 8/1942Motrin I. M. CASKIE, Absistant Examiner.

' 3,175,783 3/1965 Ketterer 242118.4

1. A PACKAGE FOR RIBBON OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A RIGID BACKING MEMBER,INTEGRAL RESILIENT TRANSPARENT RETAINER MEANS FOR SECURING SAID RIBBONTO SAID BACKING MEMBER, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL HUB HAVING ACIRCULAR PLANAR BASE PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID HUB AND AN ANNULARFLANGE AT THE OTHER END, OF SAID HUB, THE INNER EXTREMITY OF SAID FLANGEFORMING THE OUTER TERMINAL END OF SAID HUB AND THE OUTRE RIM OF SAIDFLANGE BEING DISPOSED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID HUB, ADHESIVE MEANSCONNECTING SAID BASE PORTION TO SAID BACKING MEMBER, A REEL OF RIBBONHAVING A CENTRAL BORE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HUB PORTION TO LIEBETWEEN SAID BACKING MEMBER AND SAID FLANGE, THE DEPTH OF SAID HUBPORTION BEING SUCH THAT PORTIONS OF SAID FLANGE FRICTIONALLY ENGAGEAGAINST, AND SAID FLANGE IS SUPPORTED BY, SAID REEL OF RIBBON, WHEREBYSAID FLANGE PREVENTS FREE ROTATION OF SAID REEL ABOUT SAID HUB AND SAIDREEL REENFORCES AND SUPPORTS SAID FLANGE AGAINST DAMAGE DUE TOCOMPRESSIVE FORCES EXERTED AGAINST SAID FLANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF SAIDBACKING MEMBER.